The cheetah was finally tempted back into its enclosure after 25 minutes when safari park handlers threw it food.

Port Lympne said the cheetah was "no real threat" to visitors, but said it had since further secured the perimeter fencing.

One visitor, 38-year-old Maggie Jones, of Maidstone, who was visiting the park with husband Gary, 39, and their children Danielle, 11, and 13-year-old Harry, said: "It was pretty scary.

"Word quickly spread that a big cat was on the loose and parents were shooing their children into the shops and even into the toilets.

Everyone was looking round nervously in case it was about to jump out on usvisitor Maggie Jones

"Everyone was looking round nervously in case it was about to jump out on us. They reassured us it was harmless, but none of the mums and dads were taking any chances.

"Apparently it got out of its enclosure and was on the loose where they take safari buses full of people."

Port Lympne said a "full escape procedure" was launched at about 4.30pm.

Animal director Adrian Harland said: "The cheetah was calm and pacing the enclosure fence looking to get back in.

"Some food was thrown into the enclosure and the cheetah walked back in to get it. No vet intervention was needed.

"The full escape procedure was run because the safari lorries travel past the enclosure. This particular cheetah was no real threat to our guests.

"He only climbed out to get back with his mother after having been separated to stop him eating all her dinner.

"We have secured the enclosure's perimeter fencing to ensure that the cheetah cannot climb out again."

Port Lympne said it had launched a 'full escape procedure'Credit:
Matthew Fry/Alamy

Visitor Alice Snape posted on Twitter that she and her group had hidden in a toilet during the incident. There were also other reports on social media that visitors were placed in the tapir enclosure and the park's gift shop.

She tweeted: "Locked in the loos as a cheetah on the loose OMG #cheetahontheloose."

Port Lympne, which is spread over 600 acres near Hythe, says it is "home to the UK's most authentic safari experience, the African Experience - 100 acres alive with African animals".